When homeowners around Northeast Ohio see dandelions sprouting this time of year, they usually start thinking of ways to get rid of the weed. A clever few realized that the dandelion could be used in salads or to make wine.
But now researchers at Ford and The Ohio State University are looking at this pesky plant in a whole new light. They are actually investigating ways that the dandelion can be used as a sustainable resource for rubber.
“We’re always looking for new sustainable materials to use in our vehicles. We want materials that have a smaller carbon footprint to produce and that can be grown locally,” said Angela Harris, Ford research engineer. “Synthetic rubber is not a sustainable resource, so we want to minimize its use in our vehicles when possible. Dandelions have the potential to serve as a great natural alternative to synthetic rubber in our products.”
Not all dandelions can be used as a sustainable resource for rubber. The suitable species for this project is the Russian dandelion known as TKS. It is being grown at OSU’s Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center. A milky-white substance that seeps from the roots of this species is used to produce the rubber.
“Managing weed problems is essential to developing TKS as a commercially-viable domestic source of natural rubber in the US,” said Bill Ravlin, associate director of the Agricultural Research and Development Center at OSU.
Ford could potentially use the substance as a plastics modifier to help improve the impact strength of plastics. The material may also be used in places such as cup holders, floor mats and interior trim.
“It’s strange to see weeds being grown in perfectly manicured rows in a greenhouse, but these dandelions could be the next sustainable material in our vehicles,” added Harris.
Before the dandelion-derived rubber can be put to use, Ford researchers will assess the initial quality of the material. It will evaluate how it will perform in a variety of plastic applications to ensure that it meets durability standards.
The team is also looking into the use of guayule, a southwestern US shrub, as a natural rubber. It is also being provided by the Agricultural Research and Development Center and it can be grown domestically.
The use of newly-engineered sustainable or reusable materials is nothing new to Ford. Ford’s “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle” commitment is a part of the company’s broader global sustainability strategy to reduce its environmental footprint. At the same time, it’s accelerating the development of advanced, fuel-efficient vehicle technologies around the world.
Over the past several years, Ford has concentrated on increasing the use of nonmetal recycled and bio-based materials whenever possible. Examples include soy foam seat cushions; wheat straw-filled plastic, recycled resins for underbody systems; recycled yarns in seat covers; and natural-fiber plastic for interior components.
Designers are also examining what’s the most expressive way to use these materials in vehicle interiors and how they can best represent the vehicle brand. Customers, for example, expect suede to look and feel like suede even if it’s made from plastic bottles. Interior wood accents, a common luxury-car cue, must exhibit rich colors and textures, whether they’re derived from a natural veneer or a more eco-friendly reconstituted wood veneer.
Ford researchers have been challenged to develop alternative interior materials that perform without compromise to functionality or durability. The materials must be able to be manufactured in a more cost-effective, eco-friendly manner, decreasing our dependence on foreign oil.